Vehicle or bike mount for electronic devices

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for mounting an electronic device includes a case for the electronic device; an attachment portion, formed on the case, having a groove; and a mount constructed to be attachable to a bicycle or a vehicle. The mount includes a locking cap having a protrusion; a rotatable cap having a tab groove wherein the rotatable cap is rotatable with respect to the locking cap; a biased switch having a tab wherein the tab is biased toward the rotatable cap. Here, the tab groove includes an opening and a groove is broadly defined to include an opening. The mount is attachable to the attachment portion by inserting the protrusion of the locking cap into the groove of the attachment portion and rotating the attachment portion or the locking cap with respect to each other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of and claims priority toU.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/198,641, filed onNov. 21, 2018, which claims priority to U.S. provisional patentapplication No. 62/615,335, filed on Jan. 9, 2018, and priority to U.S.provisional patent application No. 62/589,486, filed on Nov. 21, 2017,the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bike mount or car mount for aportable electronic device, and more specifically, an apparatus forsecurely mounting an electronic device to a bicycle or a vehicle,comprised of a case having an attachment means and a mount having alocking cap, a rotatable cap, and a biased switch.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bike mounts or car mounts for electronic devices such as a smart phone,cell phone, tablet computing device, PDA, digital audio players, etc arepopular accessories for consumers on the go. For such mounts, consumerneeds for easy attachment and removal of such electronic devices existto the mount and secure attachment of the electronic device withoutbeing dislodged from the mount. However, obtaining these two objectivesare not easy because they counteract with each other and/or there may bea trade off in obtaining the two objectives. If attachment and removalproperties are easy and convenient, the mount may not securely hold theelectronic device. On the contrary, if a mount securely holds anelectronic device, the mount may have a complex structure that may leadto the attachment and removal of the mount being inconvenient.

The present invention is directed to overcome such disadvantages andeffectively achieve the two objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for securely mountingan electronic device to a bicycle or a vehicle, comprised of a casehaving an attachment means and a mount having a locking cap, a rotatablecap, and a biased switch.

The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus formounting an electronic device, including an attachment portion, formedon a case for the electronic device or fixedly attached to the case orthe electronic device, the attachment portion having a groove; and amount constructed to be removably attachable to a vehicle or a bicyclewherein the mount is removably attachable to the attachment portion,wherein the mount includes a locking cap having a protrusion; arotatable cap having a tab groove wherein the rotatable cap is rotatablewith respect to the locking cap; and a biased switch including a firsttab wherein the first tab is biased towards the rotatable cap.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus formounting an electronic device, including an attachment portion, formedon a case for the electronic device or fixedly attached to the case orthe electronic device, the attachment portion having a groove; and amount constructed to be removably attachable to a vehicle or a bicycle,wherein the mount includes a locking cap having a protrusion; and arotatable cap having a protrusion wherein the rotatable cap is rotatablewith respect to the locking cap, wherein the mount removably attachableto the attachment portion by inserting the protrusion of the locking capinto the groove of the attachment portion and rotating the attachmentportion or the locking cap with respect to each other, and whereinbefore the insertion, the protrusion of the rotatable cap is alignedwith the protrusion of the locking cap whereas after the rotation, theprotrusion of the rotatable cap is not aligned with the protrusion ofthe locking cap.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a mount foruse along with an attachment portion to form an apparatus for mountingan electronic device wherein the attachment portion is attachable to theelectronic device or a case for the electronic device and has a grooveand the mount is constructed to be removably attachable to a vehicle ora bicycle, the mount including a locking cap having a protrusion; arotatable cap having a protrusion wherein the rotatable cap is rotatablewith respect to the locking cap, wherein the mount is removablyattachable to the attachment portion by inserting the protrusion of thelocking cap into the groove of the attachment portion and rotating theattachment portion or the locking cap with respect to each other,wherein before the insertion, the protrusion of the rotatable cap isaligned with the protrusion of the locking cap whereas after therotation, the protrusion of the rotatable cap is not aligned with theprotrusion of the locking cap.

The advantages of the present invention are: (1) it is very easy andconvenient to attach and detach a portable electronic device to and fromthe apparatus of the present invention; (2) the apparatus of the presentinvention securely holds an electronic device; (3) the apparatus of thepresent invention protects the electronic device from vibrations andpotential impact forces associated with operating a vehicle or abicycle, and (4) the apparatus of the present invention has a durablestructure and even if it comprises several elements, they are easy tomanufacture and assemble.

Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fullerunderstanding of the invention can be obtained by the followingdrawings, detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows the apparatus of the present invention, comprised of anattachment portion formed on the back of a case for an electronic deviceand a mount;

FIG. 2 shows another view of the attachment portion having protrusionsand grooves and a cavity below the protrusions and grooves;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an independently-constructedattachment portion that can be fixably attachable to a back of a case orattached to an electronic device;

FIG. 4 shows exploded view of the mount, having a locking cap, arotatable cap, and a biased switch;

FIG. 5 shows the locking cap and the rotatable cap being inserted intothe grooves of the attachment portion;

FIGS. 6-7 show alternative embodiments of the biased switch and the tabgrooves of the rotatable cap;

FIG. 8 shows the mount detached from the attachment portion;

FIGS. 8A and 8B respectively show the step of inserting the locking capand the rotatable cap into the grooves of the attachment means(respectively A-A and B-B cross sectional views) and FIG. 8C shows thestep of rotating the locking cap or the attachment means with respect toeach other (B-B cross sectional view);

FIG. 9 shows the mount of still another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10A show various views of the embodiment of FIG. 9 where the firsttab is received in the first beveled groove and FIG. 10B shows thebiased switch pushed to get the first tab out of the first tab groove;

FIG. 11A shows a view of the embodiment of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11B shows the view of FIG. 11A with the biased switch beingremoved;

FIG. 11C shows the view of FIG. 11B with the base being removed;

FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of FIG. 11B, showing thecircumferential wall of the rotatable cap having tab grooves and beveledgrooves;

FIG. 13 shows a view of the embodiment of FIG. 9 with the base,rotatable cap, and locking cap being removed;

FIG. 14A shows a perspective view of FIG. 9 with the base removed, andFIG. 14B shows a perspective view of FIG. 9 with the base and biasedswitch removed;

FIG. 15 shows an exploded view of still another embodiment;

FIG. 16 shows an exploded view of still another embodiment;

FIG. 17A shows top and bottom views of the attachment portion;

FIG. 17B shows a perspective view of the attachment portion;

FIG. 18A shows top and bottom views of the locking cap;

FIG. 18B shows top and bottom views of the rotatable cap;

FIG. 19 shows two perspective views of a case with the attachmentportion; and

FIG. 20 shows a perspective view of a case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understoodthat this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods,conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that theterminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting ofthe claimed invention.

Also, as used in the specification including the appended claims, thesingular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include the plural, and reference toa particular numerical value includes at least that particular value,unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressedherein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to“about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a rangeis expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular valueand/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values areexpressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about”, it willbe understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.“Groove” includes any cut, depression, or channel, or opening. “Rib”includes any protruding element from a surface, this protruding elementcan take any number of structural forms including, but not limited to,protruding bead, protruding longitudinal structure, protruding elongatedstructure, protruding polygonal structure, producing circular structure,protruding elliptical structural, or any of the like.

FIG. 1 shows the apparatus 100, comprised of an attachment portion 10and a mount 20. The attachment portion 10 may be formed on a back of acase 200 for an electronic device, or alternatively, the attachmentportion 10 may be constructed independently to be fixedly attachable toa back of a case 200 or directly to an electronic device.

FIGS. 2-3 show the attachment portion 10. As shown in FIG. 2, theattachment portion 10 may be formed on a back of a case 200 for anelectronic device. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, the attachmentportion 10 may be constructed independently to be fixedly attachable toa back of a case 200 or directly to an electronic device. The attachmentportion 10 includes alternately disposed protrusions 12 and grooves 14,and there is a hollow cavity below the protrusions 12 and the grooves14.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the mount 20 with respect to the case200 having an attachment portion 10.

The apparatus of the present invention, for mounting an electronicdevice, comprises: a case 200 for the electronic device; an attachmentportion 10, formed on the case 200, having a groove 14; and a mount 20constructed to be attachable to a bicycle or a vehicle. Various meansfor attaching the mount to a bicycle or vehicle are already well knownin the art, examples of which are shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. As shown inFIGS. 4, 19 and 20, the case 200 may include a foam padding 210 fixed toan inside surface thereof to provide additional protection to theelectronic device such as shock and/or vibration attenuation. The foampadding 210 may be fixed to a location on the inside surface that isopposite to the location of attachment portion 10 and/or the foampadding may be fixed to the inner sides of the case 200. The foampadding can be fixed to different portions of the case using any methodknown in the art, which includes (but is not limited to) tapes(double-sided, heat-resistant, permanent mounting tape, etc.),applied-on adhesives, acrylic-based adhesives, curing agents, fasteners,velcro and the like.

The mount 20 comprises: a locking cap 30 having a protrusion 32; arotatable cap 40 having a tab groove 45 wherein the rotatable cap 40 isrotatable with respect to the locking cap 30; a biased switch 50 havinga first tab 55. The first tab 55 is biased toward the rotatable cap 40,and thus, it can be released into the tab groove 45 of the rotatable cap40. The mount 20 is attachable to the attachment portion 10 by insertingthe protrusion 32 of the locking cap 30 into the groove 14 of theattachment portion 10 and rotating the attachment portion 10 or thelocking cap 30 with respect to each other. More precisely, theprotrusion 32 of the locking cap 30 passes the groove 14 of theattachment portion 10 and rests in the hollow cavity of the attachmentportion 10, and then, the locking cap 30 rotates within the hollowcavity of the attachment portion 10 until the protrusion 32 of thelocking cap 30 is at least partially aligned with the protrusion 12 ofthe attachment portion 10 in order to prevent the locking cap 30 frombeing dislodged from the attachment portion 10.

After the protrusion 32 of the locking cap 30 is inserted into thegroove 14 of the attachment portion 10 and passes the groove 14 to restin the cavity of the attachment portion 10, the protrusion 42 of therotatable cap 40 is received in the groove 14 of the attachment portion10. Since the protrusion 42 of the rotatable cap 40 is received or fitsin the groove 14 of the attachment portion 10, when rotating theattachment portion 10 or the locking cap 30 with respect to each other,the rotatable cap 40 rotates together with the attachment portion 10with respect to the locking cap 30, thereby allowing the tab 55 of thebiased switch 50 to be released into the tab groove 45 of the rotatablecap 40 in order to prevent rotation of the rotatable cap 40 and removalof the locking cap 30 from the attachment portion 10. The biased switch50 is biased toward the rotatable cap 40 by a spring or any other meansknown in the art.

For attaching and detaching the attachment portion 10 to or from themount 20, the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30 are aligned with theprotrusions 42 of the rotatable cap 40, and then, those protrusions 32,42 are aligned with the grooves 14 of the attachment portion 10 to bereceived therein. In FIG. 5, the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30are inserted into the grooves 14 of the attachment portion 10, pass thegrooves 14, and rest in the cavity of the attachment portion 10 whereasthe protrusions 42 of the rotatable cap 40 is received in the grooves 14of the attachment portion 10. Since the protrusions 42 of the rotatablecap 40 is stuck in the grooves 14 of the attachment portion 10, therotatable cap 40 rotates together with the attachment portion 10 untilthe first tab 55 of the biased switch 50 is released into the tab groove45 of the rotatable cap 40 in order to prevent further rotation of therotatable cap 40 as in FIG. 5. Since the rotatable cap 40 cannot rotate,the locking cap 30 is locked to the attachment portion 10 and cannot beremoved or dislodged from the attachment portion 10. The attachmentportion 10 can be rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise.

The mount 20 may further comprise a base 60 which is fixedly attached tothe locking cap 30. The locking cap 30 can be fixedly attached to thelocking cap 30 by male/female thread coupling, by a bolt, or by bolt/nutcoupling, or by any other means known in the art. The rotatable cap 40is rotatable with respect to the locking cap 30 and the base 60, and thebase 60 is constructed to be attachable to a bicycle or a vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 4, the mount 20 may further comprise a cylindricalguide 35, 65 which extends from the locking cap 30 or the base 60 orboth, and the rotatable cap 40 is rotatable with respect to thecylindrical guide 35, 65 as well as the locking cap 30 and the base 60.In other words, the rotatable cap 40 is constructed in a shape of acylindrical sleeve and the cylindrical guide 35, 65 fits in therotatable cap 40. The cylindrical guide 35, 65 may be hollow, partiallyhollow or solid.

In one embodiment, the attachment portion 10 has a plurality ofprotrusions 12 and the plurality of grooves 14 wherein the protrusions12 and the grooves 14 are alternately disposed, and the locking cap 30has the plurality of protrusions 32 and the plurality of grooves 34wherein the protrusions 32 and the grooves 34 are alternately disposed.Furthermore, the rotatable cap 40 has the plurality of protrusions 42and the plurality of side grooves 44 wherein the protrusions 42 and theside grooves 44 are alternately disposed.

The mount 20 is removably attachable to the attachment portion 10 viainsertion of the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30 and theprotrusions 42 of the rotatable cap 40 into the grooves 14 of theattachment portion 10 and rotation of the attachment portion 10 or thelocking cap 30 with respect to each other, and wherein after theinsertion, the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30 are rotatable withinthe protrusions 12 of the attachment portion 10 whereas the protrusions42 of the rotatable cap 40 is prevented from rotation by the protrusions12 of the attachment portion 10. Additionally, the rotatable cap 40comprises the plurality of tab grooves 45 and the plurality of beveledgrooves 47, wherein the tab grooves 45 and the beveled grooves 47 areformed and alternately disposed on an outer-circumferential surface ofthe rotatable cap 40. Before the insertion, the tab grooves 45 of therotatable cap 40 are aligned with the grooves 34 of the locking cap 30whereas after the rotation, the tab grooves 45 of the rotatable cap 40are aligned with the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30.

Furthermore, the tab grooves 45 have a depth constructed to receive thefirst tab 55 of the biased switch 50 and to prevent further rotation ofthe rotatable cap, and wherein the beveled grooves 47 comprise slopededges and a depth to receive the first tab 55 of the biased switch 50and to allow the first tab 55 of the biased switch 50 to move out of thebeveled grooves 47 during rotation of the rotatable cap 40. The depth ofthe tab grooves 45 can be greater than the depth of the beveled grooves47 to receive the first tab 55 to prevent further rotation of therotatable cap 40. Alternatively, the depth of the tab grooves 45 may besubstantially similar or the same to that of the depth of the beveledgroove 47.

In one embodiment, the attachment portion 10 has four protrusions 12 andfour grooves 14 wherein the protrusions 12 and the grooves 14 arealternately disposed, and the locking cap 30 has four protrusions 32 andfour grooves 34 wherein the protrusions 32 and the grooves 34 arealternately disposed. Furthermore, the rotatable cap 40 has fourprotrusions 42 and four side grooves 44 wherein the protrusions 42 andthe side grooves 44 are alternately disposed.

In alternative embodiments, the number of arcuate protrusions or groovescan be two, six or eight or more.

The mount 20 is attachable to the attachment portion 10 by inserting theprotrusions 32 of the locking cap 30 and the protrusions 42 of therotatable cap 40 into the grooves 14 of the attachment portion 10 androtating the attachment portion 10 or the locking cap 30 with respect toeach other. After the inserting, the protrusions 32 of the locking cap30 passes the grooves 14 of the attachment portion 10 and the lockingcap 30 is rotatable within the attachment portion 10 whereas theprotrusions 42 of the rotatable cap 40 fits in the grooves 14 of theattachment portion 10 and the protrusions 12 of the attachment portionprevents rotation of the rotatable cap 40.

Before the inserting, the tab grooves 45 of the rotatable cap 40 arealigned with the grooves 34 of the locking cap 30 whereas after therotating, the tab grooves 45 of the rotatable cap 40 are aligned withthe protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show alternative embodiments of the biased switch 50 andthe tab grooves 45 of the rotatable cap 40. FIG. 6 shows one embodimentand FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the biased switch.

As in FIG. 6, tab grooves 45 are formed on the bottom of the rotatablecap 40, and the tab 55 of the biased switch 50 is biased toward therotatable cap 40 and constructed to be received in the tab groove 45 toprevent rotation of the rotatable cap 40. Furthermore, beveled grooves47 are formed on the bottom of the rotatable cap 40 wherein the tabgrooves 45 and the beveled grooves 47 are alternately disposed in acircle as in FIG. 6. Rotation of the rotatable cap 40 pushes the tab 55of the biased switch 50 in the beveled groove 47 away from the rotatablecap 40 and then, the tab 55 is released into the tab groove 45 toprevent further rotation of the rotatable cap 40. The tab 55 may bepushed out of the tab groove 45 and the rotatable cap 40 may be rotatedin order to allow the tab 55 to be released into the beveled groove 47.

Alternatively, the biased switch 50 may be a lever resting on a pivotand the pivot has a spring to bias the tab 55 toward the rotatable cap40. The pivot or hinge is spring-loaded to bias the switch 50 toward therotatable cap 40.

As in FIG. 7, tab grooves 45 and beveled grooves 47 may be alternatelydisposed on an outer-circumferential surface of the rotatable cap 40.The tab 55 of the biased switch 50 is biased toward the rotatable cap 40and constructed to be received in the tab groove 45 to prevent rotationof the rotatable cap 40. Rotation of the rotatable cap 40 pushes the tab55 of the biased switch 50 in the beveled groove 47 away from therotatable cap 40 and then, the tab 55 is released into the tab groove 45to prevent further rotation of the rotatable cap 40. The tab 55 may bepushed out of the tab groove 45 and the rotatable cap 40 may be rotatedin order to allow the tab 55 to be released into the beveled groove 47.

In an alternative embodiment, the attachment portion 10 can bemanufactured as an independent element to be attachable to a case 200 oran electronic device. The apparatus 100 for mounting an electronicdevice comprises: an attachment portion 10, fixedly attachable to a case200 for an electronic device or to the electronic device, having agroove 14; and a mount 20 constructed to be attachable to a bicycle or avehicle. The mount 20 comprises: a locking cap 30 having a protrusion32; a rotatable cap 40 having a tab groove 45 wherein the rotatable cap40 is rotatable with respect to the locking cap 30; a biased switch 50having a tab 55 wherein the tab 55 is biased toward the rotatable cap40. The mount 20 is attachable to the attachment portion 10 by insertingthe protrusion 32 of the locking cap 30 into the groove 14 of theattachment portion 10 and rotating the attachment portion 10 or thelocking cap 30 with respect to each other.

While rotating the attachment portion 10 or the locking cap 30 withrespect to each other, the rotatable cap 40 rotates together with theattachment portion 10 with respect to the locking cap 30, therebyallowing the tab 55 of the biased switch 50 to be released into the tabgroove 45 of the rotatable cap 40 in order to prevent rotation of therotatable cap 40 and removal of the locking cap 30 from the attachmentportion 10.

The mount 20 may further comprise a base 60 which is fixedly attached tothe locking cap 30, and the rotatable cap 40 is rotatable with respectto the locking cap 30 and the base 60. In addition, the base 60 isconstructed to be attachable to a bicycle or a vehicle.

The mount 20 may further comprise a cylindrical guide 35, 65 whichextends from the locking cap 30 or the base 60 or both, and therotatable cap 40 is rotatable with respect to the cylindrical guide 35,65 as well as the locking cap 30 and the base 60.

The attachment portion 10 has a plurality of protrusions 12 and theplurality of grooves 14 wherein the protrusions 12 and the grooves 14are alternately disposed, and the locking cap 30 has the plurality ofprotrusions 32 and the plurality of grooves 34 wherein the protrusions32 and the grooves 34 are alternately disposed. In addition, therotatable cap 40 has the plurality of protrusions 42 and the pluralityof side grooves 44 wherein the protrusions 42 and the side grooves 44are alternately disposed.

The mount 20 is removably attachable to the attachment portion 10 viainsertion of the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30 and theprotrusions 42 of the rotatable cap 40 into the grooves 14 of theattachment portion 10 and rotation of the attachment portion 10 or thelocking cap 30 with respect to each other, and wherein after theinsertion, the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30 are rotatable withinthe protrusions 12 of the attachment portion 10 whereas the protrusions42 of the rotatable cap 40 is prevented from rotation by the protrusions12 of the attachment portion 10. Additionally, the rotatable cap 40comprises the plurality of tab grooves 45 and the plurality of beveledgrooves 47, wherein the tab grooves 45 and the beveled grooves 47 areformed and alternately disposed on an outer-circumferential surface ofthe rotatable cap 40. Before the insertion, the tab grooves 45 of therotatable cap 40 are aligned with the grooves 34 of the locking cap 30whereas after the rotation, the tab grooves 45 of the rotatable cap 40are aligned with the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30.

Furthermore, the tab grooves 45 have a depth constructed to receive thefirst tab 55 of the biased switch 50 and to prevent further rotation ofthe rotatable cap, and wherein the beveled grooves 47 comprise slopededges and a depth to receive the first tab 55 of the biased switch 50and to allow the first tab 55 of the biased switch 50 to move out of thebeveled grooves 47 during rotation of the rotatable cap 40. The depth ofthe tab grooves 45 can be greater than the depth of the beveled grooves47 to receive the first tab 55 to prevent further rotation of therotatable cap 40. Alternatively, the depth of the tab grooves 45 may besubstantially similar or the same to that of the depth of the beveledgroove 47.

In one embodiment, the attachment portion 10 has four protrusions 12 andfour grooves 14 wherein the protrusions 12 and the grooves 14 arealternately disposed, and the locking cap 30 has four protrusions 32 andfour grooves 34 wherein the protrusions 32 and the grooves 34 arealternately disposed. In addition, the rotatable cap 40 has fourprotrusions 42 and four side grooves 44 wherein the protrusions 42 andthe side grooves 44 are alternately disposed. As in the drawings, theprotrusions 42 and side grooves 44 are substantially curved.

The mount 20 is attachable to the attachment portion 10 by inserting theprotrusions 32 of the locking cap 30 and the protrusions 42 of therotatable cap 40 into the grooves 14 of the attachment portion 10 androtating the attachment portion 10 or the locking cap 30 with respect toeach other.

After the inserting, the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30 passes thegrooves 14 of the attachment portion 10 and the locking cap 30 isrotatable within the attachment portion 10 whereas the protrusions 42 ofthe rotatable cap 40 fits in the grooves 14 of the attachment portion 10and the protrusions 12 of the attachment portion prevents rotation ofthe rotatable cap 40.

Before the inserting, the tab grooves 45 of the rotatable cap 40 arealigned with the grooves 34 of the locking cap 30 whereas after therotating, the tab grooves 45 of the rotatable cap 40 are aligned withthe protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30.

In one embodiment as in FIG. 6, tab grooves 45 are formed on the bottomof the rotatable cap 40, and the tab 55 of the biased switch 50 isbiased toward the rotatable cap 40 and constructed to be received in thetab groove 45 to prevent rotation of the rotatable cap 40. Furthermore,beveled grooves 47 are formed on the bottom of the rotatable cap 40wherein the tab grooves 45 and the beveled grooves 47 are alternatelydisposed in a circle as in FIG. 6. Rotation of the rotatable cap 40pushes the tab 55 of the biased switch 50 in the beveled groove 47 awayfrom the rotatable cap 40 and then, the tab 55 is released into the tabgroove 45 to prevent further rotation of the rotatable cap 40. The tab55 may be pushed out of the tab groove 45 and the rotatable cap 40 maybe rotated in order to allow the tab 55 to be released into the beveledgroove 47.

In alternative embodiment, the biased switch 50 may be a lever restingon a pivot and the pivot has a spring to bias the tab 55 toward therotatable cap 40. The pivot or hinge is spring-loaded to bias the switch50 toward the rotatable cap 40.

In still alternative embodiment as in FIG. 7, tab grooves 45 and beveledgrooves 47 may be alternately disposed on an outer-circumferentialsurface of the rotatable cap 40. The tab 55 of the biased switch 50 isbiased toward the rotatable cap 40 and constructed to be received in thetab groove 45 to prevent rotation of the rotatable cap 40. Rotation ofthe rotatable cap 40 pushes the tab 55 of the biased switch 50 in thebeveled groove 47 away from the rotatable cap 40 and then, the tab 55 isreleased into the tab groove 45 to prevent further rotation of therotatable cap 40. The tab 55 may be pushed out of the tab groove 45 andthe rotatable cap 40 may be rotated in order to allow the tab 55 to bereleased into the beveled groove 47.

FIG. 8 shows the mount 20 detached from the attachment portion 10. FIGS.8A and 8B respectively show the step of inserting the locking cap 30 andthe rotatable cap 40 into the grooves 14 of the attachment means 10.FIGS. 8A and 8B are A-A and B-B cross sectional views of FIG. 8. FIG. 8Cshows the step of rotating the locking cap 30 or the attachment portion10 with respect to each other. FIG. 8C is the B-B cross-sectional viewwhen the locking tab protrusions 30 are aligned with the protrusions 12of the attachment portion 10.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show where the locking cap 30 and the rotatable cap 40are inserted into the grooves 14 of the attachment portion 10. Thus,FIG. 8A shows the protrusions 32, 42 of the locking cap 30 and therotatable cap 40, and FIG. 8B shows the grooves 34 and side grooves 44of the locking cap 30 and the rotatable cap 40. Here, the rotatable cap40 fits in the protrusions 12 and grooves 14 of the attachment portion10 and the attachment portion 10 has a space 18, as shown in FIG. 8A,where the locking cap 30 can rotate. If the attachment portion 10 isrotated with respect to the locking cap 30, the rotatable cap 40 rotatesalong with the attachment portion 10. Then, the protrusions 32 of thelocking cap 30 are at least partially aligned with the protrusions 12 ofthe attachment portion 10 to prevent removal of the locking cap 30 (orthe mount 20) from the attachment portion 10 (or the case 200). Once,the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30 are completely aligned with theprotrusions 12 of the attachment portion 10, the tab 55 of the biasedswitch 50 releases into the tab groove 45 of the rotatable cap 40 toprevent rotation of the rotatable cap 40 (or the mount 20 with respectto the attachment portion 10).

To remove the mount 20 from the attachment portion 10, the biased switchneeds to be pulled or pushed to get the tab 55 out of the tab groove 45of the rotatable cap 40 in order to make the rotatable cap 40 and theattachment portion 10 rotatable with respect to the locking cap 30. Ifthe attachment portion 10 rotates to the point where the protrusions 32of the locking cap 30 are aligned with the grooves 14 of the attachmentportion 10 so that the locking cap 30 can be removed out of theattachment portion 10.

FIG. 9 shows the mount 20 of still another embodiment of the presentinvention. The apparatus for mounting an electronic device comprises acase 200 for the electronic device; an attachment portion 10, formed onthe case 200 or fixedly attachable to the case 200, having a groove 14;and a mount 20 constructed to be attachable to a bicycle or a vehicle.The mount 20 comprises: a locking cap 30 having a protrusion 32; arotatable cap 40 having a first tab groove 45 wherein the rotatable cap40 is rotatable with respect to the locking cap 30; and a biased switch50 having a first tab 55 wherein the first tab 55 is biased toward therotatable cap 40. The mount 20 is attachable to the attachment portion10 by inserting the protrusion 32 of the locking cap 30 into the groove14 of the attachment portion 10 and rotating the attachment portion 10or the locking cap 30 with respect to each other. While rotating theattachment portion 10 or the locking cap 30 with respect to each other,the rotatable cap 40 rotates together with the attachment portion 10with respect to the locking cap 30, thereby allowing the first tab 55 ofthe biased switch 50 to be released into the first tab groove 45 of therotatable cap 40 in order to prevent rotation of the rotatable cap 40and removal of the locking cap 30 from the attachment portion 10.

The mount 20 further comprises a base 60 which is fixedly attached tothe locking cap 30, and the rotatable cap 40 is rotatable with respectto the locking cap 30 and the base 60. The base 60 is constructed to beattachable to a bicycle or a vehicle.

The base 60 is fixedly attached to the locking cap 30 by a connectingmember 70. Preferably, the connecting member 70 comprises a shaft 72,and the rotatable cap 40 is rotatable with respect to the shaft 72 aswell as the locking cap 30 and the base 60. The shaft 72 may be threadedto permit the connecting member to be received in a complimentary holethat is also threaded, such as a guide hole 67 formed about the centerof the cylindrical guide 65.

FIGS. 10A and 10B show various views of the embodiment of FIG. 9 wherethe first tab 55 is received in the first beveled groove 47, and FIG. 12shows the bottom view of the locking cap 30, the rotatable cap 40, theconnecting member 70, and the spring 80 assembled together. FIG. 10Bshows the biased switch 50 pushed to get the first tab 55 out of thefirst tab groove 45.

The first tab 55 is biased toward the rotatable cap 40 by a spring 80.The biased switch 50 is constructed to slide on or along the base 60,and the biased switch 50 does not rotate with respect to the base 60.Accordingly, if the first tab 55 is received in the tab groove 45, thelocking cap 30, the rotatable cap 40, the biased switch 50 or the base60 cannot rotate with each other.

FIG. 11A shows a view of the embodiment of FIG. 9; FIG. 11B shows theview of FIG. 11A with the biased switch 50 being removed; FIG. 11C showsthe view of FIG. 11B with the base 60 being removed; FIG. 12 is a bottomperspective views of 11C, showing the circumferential wall 57 of therotatable cap 40 having the tab groove 45 and the beveled groove 47(here, shown as a plurality of tab grooves and a plurality of beveledgrooves); FIG. 13 shows a view of the embodiment of FIG. 9 with the base60 and the rotatable cap 40 removed; and FIGS. 14A and 14B show variousperspective views FIG. 9 wherein FIG. 14A shows a perspective view ofFIG. 9 with the base 60 removed, and FIG. 14B shows a perspective viewof FIG. 9 with the base 60 and biased switch 50 removed.

Preferably, the spring 80 is a compression spring 80, and the biasedswitch 50 has a second tab 55′. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, thecompression spring 80 is constructed having an end 82 that is compressedby the second tab 55′ in order to move the first tab 55 away from therotatable cap 40, thus allowing the rotatable cap 40 to rotate. When thespring 80 is at rest, the first tab 55 is biased towards the rotatablecap 40. Alternatively, the compression spring 80 is constructed to becompressed in between the shaft 72 and the second tab 55′ in order tobias the first tab 55 toward the rotatable cap 40; the spring 80 is aplate spring 80 having a hole and the shaft passes through the hole asshown in FIG. 14B.

The connecting member 70 may further comprise a nut 74 which is receivedin a groove of the base 60 to fixedly attach the locking cap 30 to thebase 60 as shown in FIG. 11.

The attachment portion 10 has a plurality of protrusions 12 and theplurality of grooves 14, and the protrusions 12 and the grooves 14 arealternately disposed. In addition, the locking cap 30 has the pluralityof protrusions 32 and the plurality of grooves 34, and the protrusions32 and the grooves 34 are alternately disposed. The rotatable cap 40 hasthe plurality of protrusions 42 and the plurality of side grooves 44,and the protrusions 42 and the side grooves 44 are alternately disposed.

The mount 20 is removably attachable to the attachment portion 10 viainsertion of the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30 and theprotrusions 42 of the rotatable cap 40 into the grooves 14 of theattachment portion 10 and rotation of the attachment portion 10 or thelocking cap 30 with respect to each other, and wherein after theinsertion, the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30 are rotatable withinthe protrusions 12 of the attachment portion 10 whereas the protrusions42 of the rotatable cap 40 is prevented from rotation by the protrusions12 of the attachment portion 10. Additionally, the rotatable cap 40comprises the plurality of tab grooves 45 and the plurality of beveledgrooves 47, wherein the tab grooves 45 and the beveled grooves 47 areformed and alternately disposed on an outer-circumferential surface ofthe rotatable cap 40. Before the insertion, the tab grooves 45 of therotatable cap 40 are aligned with the grooves 34 of the locking cap 30whereas after the rotation, the tab grooves 45 of the rotatable cap 40are aligned with the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30.

Furthermore, the tab grooves 45 have a depth constructed to receive thefirst tab 55 of the biased switch 50 and to prevent further rotation ofthe rotatable cap, and wherein the beveled grooves 47 comprise slopededges and a depth to receive the first tab 55 of the biased switch 50and to allow the first tab 55 of the biased switch 50 to move out of thebeveled grooves 47 during rotation of the rotatable cap 40. The depth ofthe tab grooves 45 can be greater than the depth of the beveled grooves47 to receive the first tab 55 to prevent further rotation of therotatable cap 40. Alternatively, the depth of the tab grooves 45 may besubstantially similar or the same to that of the depth of the beveledgroove 47.

In one embodiment, the attachment portion 10 has four protrusions 12 andfour grooves 14 wherein the protrusions 12 and the grooves 14 arealternately disposed, and the locking cap 30 has four protrusions 32 andfour grooves 34 wherein the protrusions 32 and the grooves 34 arealternately disposed. Furthermore, the rotatable cap 40 has fourprotrusions 42 and four side grooves 44 wherein the protrusions 42 andthe side grooves 44 are alternately disposed.

Preferably, the attachment portion 10 has four protrusions 12 and fourgrooves 14, and the protrusions 12 and the grooves 14 are alternatelydisposed. The locking cap 30 has four protrusions 32 and four grooves34, and the protrusions 32 and the grooves 34 are alternately disposed.The rotatable cap 40 has four protrusions 42 and four side grooves 44,and the protrusions 42 and the side grooves 44 are alternately disposed.

The mount 20 is attachable to the attachment portion 10 by inserting theprotrusions 32 of the locking cap 30 and the protrusions 42 of therotatable cap 40 into the grooves 14 of the attachment portion 10 androtating the attachment portion 10 or the locking cap 30 with respect toeach other. After insertion, the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30passes the grooves 14 of the attachment portion 10 and the locking cap30 is rotatable within the attachment portion 10 whereas the protrusions42 of the rotatable cap 40 fits in the grooves 14 of the attachmentportion 10 and the protrusions 12 of the attachment portion preventsrotation of the rotatable cap 40.

Further, before the insertion, the first tab grooves 45 of the rotatablecap 40 are aligned with the grooves 34 of the locking cap 30 whereasafter the rotating, the first tab grooves 45 of the rotatable cap 40 arealigned with the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30.

To unlock or dislodge the mount 20 from the attachment portion 10, thebiased switch needs to be pushed to get the first and second tabs 55,55′ out of the first and second tab grooves 45, 45′, and then theattachment portion 10 (together with the rotatable cap 40) is rotatedwith respect to the locking cap 30 in order to align the protrusions 32of the locking cap 30 with the grooves 14 of the attachment portion 10.Then, the locking cap 30 is removed from the attachment portion 10.

The first tab grooves 45 are formed on the bottom of the rotatable cap40, and the first tab 55 of the biased switch 50 is constructed to bereceived in the first tab groove 45 to prevent rotation of the rotatablecap 40.

In addition, the first beveled grooves 47 are formed on the bottom ofthe rotatable cap 40. The first tab grooves 45 and the beveled grooves47 are alternately disposed in a circle, and rotation of the rotatablecap 40 pushes the first tab 55 of the biased switch 50 in the firstbeveled groove 47 away from the rotatable cap 40.

The first tab grooves 45 and the first beveled grooves 47 are formed andalternately disposed on an outer-surface of a circumferential wall 57 ofthe rotatable cap 40. The first tab 55 of the biased switch 50 isconstructed to be received in the first tab groove 45 to preventrotation of the rotatable cap 40, and rotation of the rotatable cap 40pushes the first tab 55 of the biased switch 50 in the first beveledgroove 47 out of the first beveled groove 47.

Besides, second tab grooves 45′ and second beveled grooves 47′ areformed and alternately disposed on an inner-surface of thecircumferential wall 57 of the rotatable cap 40 as shown in FIG. 12. Thesecond tab 55′ of the biased switch 50 is constructed to be received inthe second tab groove 45′ to prevent rotation of the rotatable cap 40,and rotation of the rotatable cap 40 pushes the second tab 55′ of thebiased switch 50 in the second beveled groove 47′ out of the secondbeveled groove 47′.

More preferably, there are four first tab grooves 45, four second tabgrooves 45′, four first beveled grooves 47 and four second beveledgrooves 47′, and wherein each first and second tab grooves 45, 45′ faceeach other and each first and second beveled grooves 47, 47′ face eachother.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the mount 20 of theapparatus 100 further comprises a cylindrical guide 65 which extendsfrom the base 60, the cylindrical guide 65 comprising at least twolocking holes 66 formed on a top surface of the cylindrical guide.Additionally, the locking cap 30 may further comprise at least twolocking posts 31 extending from the locking cap 30 such that the lockingposts 31 of the locking cap 30 are received in the locking holes 66 ofthe cylindrical guide 65. Furthermore, the locking cap 30, the rotatablecap 40, and the base are connected to each other via a connecting member70 with a shaft 72. A connecting hole 67 about the center of thecylindrical guide 65 receives the connecting member 70. Specifically,the shaft 72 passes through holes located about the centers of thelocking cap 30 and the rotating cap 40 and then through the connectinghole 67 of the cylindrical guide 65. The connecting hole 67 may bethreaded to accommodate the shaft 72 if the latter is complimentarythreaded too. Alternatively, the shaft 72 may couple with a nut 74. Aswith other embodiments described earlier, the rotatable cap 40 in thisembodiment is rotatable with respect to the cylindrical guide 65 as wellas the locking cap 30 and the base 60.

As shown FIGS. 15 and 16, the embodiment includes a biased switch 50comprising a first tab 55 and a second tab 55′ wherein the first tab 55is biased toward the rotatable cap 40 by a spring 80 that is housed in aspring compartment 68 of the cylindrical guide 65. The spring 80, whennot compressed, extends the second tab 55′ away from the rotatable cap40 thereby moving the biased switch 50 in a manner that results in thefirst tab 55 being biased towards the rotating cap 50. By moving thesecond tab 55′ towards the spring 80 (thus, compressing the spring 80),the first tab 55 moves away from the rotatable cap 40, which frees therotatable cap 40 to rotate. Thus, temporarily, the first tab 55 is notbiased towards the rotatable cap 40 when the second tab 55′ is movedtowards the spring 80. As in other embodiments, the mount 20, as shownin FIGS. 15 and 16 is removably attachable to the attachment portion 10by inserting the protrusion 32 of the locking cap 30 into the groove 14of the attachment portion 10 and rotating the attachment portion 10 orthe locking cap 30 with respect to each other.

In one embodiment, the attachment portion 10 has a plurality ofprotrusions 12 and the plurality of grooves 14 wherein the protrusions12 and the grooves 14 are alternately disposed, and the locking cap 30has the plurality of protrusions 32 and the plurality of grooves 34wherein the protrusions 32 and the grooves 34 are alternately disposed.Furthermore, the rotatable cap 40 has the plurality of protrusions 42and the plurality of side grooves 44 wherein the protrusions 42 and theside grooves 44 are alternately disposed.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 17A-B and 18A-B, each of the protrusions12 of the attachment portion 10 has an attachment rib 16 and each of theprotrusions 32 of the locking cap 30 has an attachment groove 36,wherein the locking cap 30 has a at least one cap rib 38 and therotatable cap 40 has at least one cap groove 46 constructed to receivethe cap rib 38, wherein the attachment grooves 36 of the locking cap 30are constructed to receive the attachment ribs 16 of the attachmentportion 10 when the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30 are insertedinto the groove 14 of the attachment portion 10 and rotating theattachment portion 10 or the locking cap 30 with respect to each other,resulting in additional control of the rotation.

Alternatively, for further rotational control, each of the protrusions12 of the attachment portion 10 has an inner surface 11 having anattachment rib 16, wherein each of the protrusions 32 of the locking cap30 has a bottom surface having an attachment groove 36, wherein theattachment grooves 36 of the locking cap 30 are constructed to receivethe attachment ribs 16 of the attachment portion 10 when the protrusions32 of the locking cap 30 are inserted into the groove 14 of theattachment portion 10 and rotating the attachment portion 10 or thelocking cap 30 with respect to each other. Further, the cap rib 38 ofthe locking cap 30 may protrude from the cylindrical guide 35 of thelocking cap 30, the cylindrical guide 35 may extend from an underside ofthe locking cap 30 as shown in FIG. 18. Alternatively, there may be aplurality of cap ribs 38 distributed equidistant from each other alongan edge of the cylindrical guide 35. Preferably, the cap ribs 38, asdescribed above are four in number and are substantiallycircumferentially arranged 90 degrees from each other. The rotatable cap40 may include a recess substantially at its center, the recess mayinclude either a single cap groove 46 or a plurality of cap grooves 46arranged in a manner that corresponds to the cap ribs 38 of the lockingcap 30. The number of cap grooves 46 distributed in the recess of therotatable cap 40 may equal or exceed the number of cap ribs 38 of thelocking cap 30.

The mount 20 is removably attachable to the attachment portion 10 viainsertion of the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30 and theprotrusions 42 of the rotatable cap 40 into the grooves 14 of theattachment portion 10 and rotation of the attachment portion 10 or thelocking cap 30 with respect to each other, and wherein after theinsertion, the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30 are rotatable withinthe protrusions 12 of the attachment portion 10 whereas the protrusions42 of the rotatable cap 40 is prevented from rotation by the protrusions12 of the attachment portion 10. Additionally, the rotatable cap 40comprises the plurality of tab grooves 45 and the plurality of beveledgrooves 47, wherein the tab grooves 45 and the beveled grooves 47 areformed and alternately disposed on an outer-circumferential surface ofthe rotatable cap 40. Before the insertion, the tab grooves 45 of therotatable cap 40 are aligned with the grooves 34 of the locking cap 30whereas after the rotation, the tab grooves 45 of the rotatable cap 40are aligned with the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30.

Furthermore, the tab grooves 45 have a depth constructed to receive thefirst tab 55 of the biased switch 50 and to prevent further rotation ofthe rotatable cap, and wherein the beveled grooves 47 comprise slopededges and a depth to receive the first tab 55 of the biased switch 50and to allow the first tab 55 of the biased switch 50 to move out of thebeveled grooves 47 during rotation of the rotatable cap 40. The depth ofthe tab grooves 45 can be greater than the depth of the beveled grooves47 to receive the first tab 55 to prevent further rotation of therotatable cap 40. Alternatively, the depth of the tab grooves 45 may besubstantially similar or the same to that of the depth of the beveledgroove 47.

In one embodiment, the attachment portion 10 has four protrusions 12 andfour grooves 14 wherein the protrusions 12 and the grooves 14 arealternately disposed, and the locking cap 30 has four protrusions 32 andfour grooves 34 wherein the protrusions 32 and the grooves 34 arealternately disposed. Furthermore, the rotatable cap 40 has fourprotrusions 42 and four side grooves 44 wherein the protrusions 42 andthe side grooves 44 are alternately disposed.

In another embodiment, an apparatus 100 for mounting an electronicdevice comprises an attachment portion 10 that is fixedly attachable tothe electronic device. The attachment portion 10 may be attached to theelectronic device by a variety of different techniques known in the artsuch as (but not limited to) temperature-resistant adhesives, permanentmounting tape, acrylic-based adhesives, and the like. The attachmentportion 10 includes a groove 14; and a mount 20 constructed to beremovably attachable to a vehicle or a bicycle, wherein the mount 20comprises a locking cap 30 having a protrusion 32; a rotatable cap 40having a first tab groove 45 wherein the rotatable cap 40 is rotatablewith respect to the locking cap 30; and a biased switch 50 comprising afirst tab 55 wherein the first tab 55 is biased toward the rotatable cap40, wherein the mount 20 is attachable to the attachment portion 10 byinserting the protrusion 32 of the locking cap 30 into the groove 14 ofthe attachment portion 10 and rotating the attachment portion 10 or thelocking cap 30 with respect to each other.

In one embodiment, the attachment portion 10 has a plurality ofprotrusions 12 and the plurality of grooves 14 wherein the protrusions12 and the grooves 14 are alternately disposed, and the locking cap 30has the plurality of protrusions 32 and the plurality of grooves 34wherein the protrusions 32 and the grooves 34 are alternately disposed.Furthermore, the rotatable cap 40 has the plurality of protrusions 42and the plurality of side grooves 44 wherein the protrusions 42 and thegrooves 44 are alternately disposed.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 17A-B and 18A-B, each of the protrusions 12of the attachment portion 10 has an attachment rib 16 and each of theprotrusions 32 of the locking cap 30 has an attachment groove 36,wherein the locking cap 30 has a at least one cap rib 38 and therotatable cap 40 has at least one cap groove 46 constructed to receivethe cap rib 38, wherein the attachment grooves 36 of the locking cap 30are constructed to receive the attachment ribs 16 of the attachmentportion 10 when the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30 are insertedinto the groove 14 of the attachment portion 10 and rotating theattachment portion 10 or the locking cap 30 with respect to each otherto provide further rotational control.

Alternatively, for further rotational control, each of the protrusions12 of the attachment portion 10 has an inner surface 11 having anattachment rib 16, wherein each of the protrusions 32 of the locking cap30 has a bottom surface having an attachment groove 36, wherein theattachment grooves 36 of the locking cap 30 are constructed to receivethe attachment ribs 16 of the attachment portion 10 when the protrusions32 of the locking cap 30 are inserted into the groove 14 of theattachment portion 10 and rotating the attachment portion 10 or thelocking cap 30 with respect to each other. Further, the cap rib 38 ofthe locking cap 30 may protrude from the cylindrical guide 35 of thelocking cap 30, the cylindrical guide 35 may extend from an underside ofthe locking cap 30 as shown in FIG. 18. Alternatively, there may be aplurality of cap ribs 38 distributed equidistant from each other alongan edge of the cylindrical guide 35. Preferably, the cap ribs 38, asdescribed above are four in number and are substantiallycircumferentially arranged 90 degrees from each other. The rotatable cap40 may include a recess substantially at its center, the recess mayinclude either a single cap groove 46 or a plurality of cap grooves 46arranged in a manner that corresponds to the cap ribs 38 of the lockingcap 30. The number of cap grooves 46 distributed in the recess of therotatable cap 40 may equal or exceed the number of cap ribs 38 of thelocking cap 30.

The mount 20 is removably attachable to the attachment portion 10 viainsertion of the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30 and theprotrusions 42 of the rotatable cap 40 into the grooves 14 of theattachment portion 10 and rotation of the attachment portion 10 or thelocking cap 30 with respect to each other, and wherein after theinsertion, the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30 are rotatable withinthe protrusions 12 of the attachment portion 10 whereas the protrusions42 of the rotatable cap 40 is prevented from rotation by the protrusions12 of the attachment portion 10. Additionally, the rotatable cap 40comprises the plurality of tab grooves 45 and the plurality of beveledgrooves 47, wherein the tab grooves 45 and the beveled grooves 47 areformed and alternately disposed on an outer-circumferential surface ofthe rotatable cap 40. Before the insertion, the tab grooves 45 of therotatable cap 40 are aligned with the grooves 34 of the locking cap 30whereas after the rotation, the tab grooves 45 of the rotatable cap 40are aligned with the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30.

Furthermore, the tab grooves 45 have a depth constructed to receive thefirst tab 55 of the biased switch 50 and to prevent further rotation ofthe rotatable cap, and wherein the beveled grooves 47 comprise slopededges and a depth to receive the first tab 55 of the biased switch 50and to allow the first tab 55 of the biased switch 50 to move out of thebeveled grooves 47 during rotation of the rotatable cap 40. The depth ofthe tab grooves 45 can be greater than the depth of the beveled grooves47 to receive the first tab 55 to prevent further rotation of therotatable cap 40. Alternatively, the depth of the tab grooves 45 may besubstantially similar or the same to that of the depth of the beveledgroove 47.

In one embodiment, the attachment portion 10 has four protrusions 12 andfour grooves 14 wherein the protrusions 12 and the grooves 14 arealternately disposed, and the locking cap 30 has four protrusions 32 andfour grooves 34 wherein the protrusions 32 and the grooves 34 arealternately disposed. Furthermore, the rotatable cap 40 has fourprotrusions 42 and four side grooves 44 wherein the protrusions 42 andthe side grooves 44 are alternately disposed.

In another embodiment, a mount 20 for use along with an attachmentportion 10 to form an apparatus 100 for mounting an electronic devicewherein the attachment portion 10 is attachable to the electronic deviceand has a groove 14 and the mount 20 is constructed to removablyattachable to a vehicle or a bicycle, the mount 20 comprising: a lockingcap 30 having a protrusion 32; a rotatable cap 40 having a tab groove 45wherein the rotatable cap 40 is rotatable with respect to the lockingcap 30; and a biased switch 50 comprising a first tab 55 wherein thefirst tab 55 is biased toward the rotatable cap 40, wherein the mount 20is removably attachable to the attachment portion 10 by inserting theprotrusion 32 of the locking cap 30 into the groove 14 of the attachmentportion 10 and rotating the attachment portion 10 or the locking cap 30with respect to each other, wherein while rotating the attachmentportion 10 or the locking cap 30 with respect to each other, therotatable cap 40 rotates together with the attachment portion 10 withrespect to the locking cap 30, thereby allowing the first tab 55 of thebiased switch 50 to be released into the tab groove 45 of the rotatablecap 40 in order to prevent further rotation of the rotatable cap 40 andprevent removal of the locking cap 30 from the attachment portion 10.

The attachment portion 10 can have a plurality of protrusions 12 and theplurality of grooves 14 wherein the protrusions 12 and the grooves 14are alternately disposed, wherein the locking cap 30 has the pluralityof protrusions 32 and the plurality of grooves 34 wherein theprotrusions 32 and the grooves 34 are alternately disposed, wherein therotatable cap 40 has the plurality of protrusions 42 and the pluralityof side grooves 44 wherein the protrusions 42 and the side grooves 44are alternately disposed, wherein the mount 20 is removably attachableto the attachment portion 10 via insertion of the protrusions 32 of thelocking cap 30 and the protrusions 42 of the rotatable cap 40 into thegrooves 14 of the attachment portion 10 and rotation of the attachmentportion 10 or the locking cap 30 with respect to each other, and whereinafter the insertion, the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30 arerotatable within the protrusions 12 of the attachment portion 10 whereasthe protrusions 42 of the rotatable cap 40 is prevented from rotation bythe protrusions 12 of the attachment portion 10.

Additionally for the mount 20, the rotatable cap 40 comprises theplurality of tab grooves 45 and the plurality of beveled grooves 47,wherein the tab grooves 45 and the beveled grooves 47 are formed andalternately disposed on an outer-circumferential surface of therotatable cap 40, and wherein before the insertion, the tab grooves 45of the rotatable cap 40 are aligned with the grooves 34 of the lockingcap 30 whereas after the rotation, the tab grooves 45 of the rotatablecap 40 are aligned with the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30.

Further, tab grooves 45 have a depth constructed to receive the firsttab 55 of the biased switch 50 and to prevent further rotation of therotatable cap, and wherein the beveled grooves 47 comprise sloped edgesand a depth to receive the first tab 55 of the biased switch 50 and toallow the first tab 55 of the biased switch 50 to move out of thebeveled grooves 47 during rotation of the rotatable cap 40.Alternatively, the depth of the tab grooves 45 may be substantiallysimilar or the same to that of the depth of the beveled groove 47.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference todifferent embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilledin the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operationmay be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas defined by the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for mounting an electronic device,comprising: an attachment portion 10, formed on a case 200 for theelectronic device or fixedly attached to the case 200 or the electronicdevice, the attachment portion 10 having a groove 14; and a mount 20constructed to be removably attachable to a vehicle or a bicycle,wherein the mount 20 is removably attachable to the attachment portion10, and wherein the mount 20 comprises: a locking cap 30 having aprotrusion 32; a rotatable cap 40 having a tab groove 45 wherein therotatable cap 40 is rotatable with respect to the locking cap 30; and abiased switch 50 including a first tab 55 wherein the first tab 55 isbiased towards the rotatable cap
 40. 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the mount 20 is removably attachable to the attachment portion10 by inserting the protrusion 32 of the locking cap 30 into the groove14 of the attachment portion 10 and rotating the attachment portion 10or the locking cap 30 with respect to each other, and wherein after theinsertion, the protrusion 42 of the rotatable cap 40 is received in thegroove 14 of the attachment portion 10, and after the rotation, theprotrusion 42 of the rotatable cap 40 is still received in the groove 14of the attachment portion
 10. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein whilerotating the attachment portion 10 or the locking cap 30 with respect toeach other, the rotatable cap 40 rotates together with the attachmentportion 10 with respect to the locking cap 30, thereby allowing thefirst tab 55 of the biased switch 50 to be released into the tab groove45 of the rotatable cap 40 to prevent further rotation of the rotatablecap 40 and to prevent removal of the locking cap 30 from the attachmentportion
 10. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the rotatable cap 40comprises a plurality of beveled grooves 47 and the plurality of the tabgrooves 45, and wherein the tab grooves 45 and the beveled grooves 47are formed and alternately disposed on an outer-circumferential surfaceof the rotatable cap
 40. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the tabgrooves 45 are constructed to receive the first tab 55 of the biasedswitch 50 and to prevent further rotation of the rotatable cap, andwherein the beveled grooves 47 comprise sloped edges and a depth toreceive the first tab 55 of the biased switch 50 and to allow the firsttab 55 of the biased switch 50 to move out of the beveled grooves 47during rotation of the rotatable cap
 40. 6. The apparatus of claim 5,wherein a depth of the tab grooves 45 is greater than the depth of thebeveled grooves
 47. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the case 200includes foam padding
 210. 8. An apparatus for mounting an electronicdevice, comprising: an attachment portion 10, formed on a case 200 forthe electronic device or fixedly attached to the case 200 or theelectronic device, the attachment portion 10 having a groove 14; and amount 20 constructed to be removably attachable to a vehicle or abicycle, wherein the mount 20 comprises: a locking cap 30 having aprotrusion 32; and a rotatable cap 40 having a protrusion 42 wherein therotatable cap 40 is rotatable with respect to the locking cap 30,wherein the mount 20 is removably attachable to the attachment portion10 by inserting the protrusion 32 of the locking cap 30 into the groove14 of the attachment portion 10 and rotating the attachment portion 10or the locking cap 30 with respect to each other, and wherein before theinsertion, the protrusion 42 of the rotatable cap 40 is aligned with theprotrusion 32 of the locking cap 30 whereas after the rotation, theprotrusion 42 of the rotatable cap 40 is not aligned with the protrusion32 of the locking cap
 30. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein theattachment portion 10 has a plurality of protrusions 12 and theplurality of the grooves 14 wherein the protrusions 12 and the grooves14 are alternately disposed, wherein the locking cap 30 has a pluralityof grooves 34 and the plurality of the protrusions 32 wherein theprotrusions 32 and the grooves 34 are alternately disposed, wherein therotatable cap 40 has a plurality of grooves 44 and the plurality of theprotrusions 42 wherein the protrusions 42 and the grooves 44 arealternately disposed, and wherein before the insertion, the plurality ofthe protrusions 42 of the rotatable cap 40 are aligned with theplurality of the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30 whereas after therotation, the plurality of the protrusions 12 of the attachment portion10 are aligned with the plurality of the protrusions 32 of the lockingcap
 30. 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the rotatable cap 40includes a tab groove 45, and the mount 20 further comprises a biasedswitch 50 comprising a first tab 55 wherein the first tab 55 is biasedtowards the rotatable cap 40, and wherein while rotating the attachmentportion 10 or the locking cap 30 with respect to each other, therotatable cap 40 rotates together with the attachment portion 10 withrespect to the locking cap 30, thereby allowing the first tab 55 of thebiased switch 50 to be released into the tab groove 45 of the rotatablecap 40 to prevent further rotation of the rotatable cap 40 and toprevent removal of the locking cap 30 from the attachment portion 10.11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the rotatable cap 40 comprises aplurality of beveled grooves 47 and the plurality of the tab grooves 45,wherein the tab grooves 45 and the beveled grooves 47 are formed and arealternately disposed on an outer-circumferential surface of therotatable cap
 40. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the tab grooves45 are constructed to receive the first tab 55 of the biased switch 50and to prevent further rotation of the rotatable cap 40, and wherein thebeveled grooves 47 comprise sloped edges and a depth to receive thefirst tab 55 of the biased switch 50 and to allow the first tab 55 ofthe biased switch 50 to move out of the beveled grooves 47 duringrotation of the rotatable cap
 40. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, whereina depth of the tab grooves 45 is greater than the depth of the beveledgrooves
 47. 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein before the insertion,the tab grooves 45 of the rotatable cap 40 are aligned with the grooves34 of the locking cap 30 whereas after the rotation, the tab grooves 45of the rotatable cap 40 are aligned with the protrusions 32 of thelocking cap
 30. 15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein after theinsertion, the protrusion 42 of the rotatable cap 40 is received in thegroove 14 of the attachment portion 10, and after the rotation, theprotrusion 42 of the rotatable cap 40 is still received in the groove 14of the attachment portion
 10. 16. A mount 20 for use along with anattachment portion 10 to form an apparatus 100 for mounting anelectronic device wherein the attachment portion 10 is attachable to theelectronic device or a case for the electronic device and has a groove14 and the mount 20 is constructed to be removably attachable to avehicle or a bicycle, the mount 20 comprising: a locking cap 30 having aprotrusion 32; a rotatable cap 40 having a protrusion 42 wherein therotatable cap 40 is rotatable with respect to the locking cap 30,wherein the mount 20 is removably attachable to the attachment portion10 by inserting the protrusion 32 of the locking cap 30 into the groove14 of the attachment portion 10 and rotating the attachment portion 10or the locking cap 30 with respect to each other, and wherein before theinsertion, the protrusion 42 of the rotatable cap 40 is aligned with theprotrusion 32 of the locking cap 30 whereas after the rotation, theprotrusion 42 of the rotatable cap 40 is not aligned with the protrusion32 of the locking cap
 30. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein afterthe insertion, the protrusion 42 of the rotatable cap 40 is received inthe groove 14 of the attachment portion 10, and after the rotation, theprotrusion 42 of the rotatable cap 40 is still received in the groove 14of the attachment portion
 10. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein theattachment portion 10 has a plurality of protrusions 12 and theplurality of the grooves 14 wherein the protrusions 12 and the grooves14 are alternately disposed, wherein the locking cap 30 has a pluralityof grooves 34 and the plurality of the protrusions 32 wherein theprotrusions 32 and the grooves 34 are alternately disposed, wherein therotatable cap 40 has a plurality of grooves 44 and the plurality of theprotrusions 42 wherein the protrusions 42 and the grooves 44 arealternately disposed, and wherein before the insertion, the plurality ofthe protrusions 42 of the rotatable cap 40 are aligned with theplurality of the protrusions 32 of the locking cap 30 whereas after therotation, the plurality of the protrusions 12 of the attachment portion10 are aligned with the plurality of the protrusions 32 of the lockingcap
 30. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the rotatable cap 40further has a tab groove 45, and the mount 20 further comprises a biasedswitch 50 comprising a first tab 55 wherein the first tab 55 is biasedtowards the rotatable cap 40, and wherein while rotating the attachmentportion 10 or the locking cap 30 with respect to each other, therotatable cap 40 rotates together with the attachment portion 10 withrespect to the locking cap 30, thereby allowing the first tab 55 of thebiased switch 50 to be released into the tab groove 45 of the rotatablecap 40 to prevent further rotation of the rotatable cap 40 and toprevent removal of the locking cap 30 from the attachment portion 10.20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the rotatable cap 40 comprises aplurality of beveled grooves 47 and the plurality of the tab grooves 45,wherein the tab grooves 45 and the beveled grooves 47 are formed andalternately disposed on an outer-circumferential surface of therotatable cap 40, wherein the tab grooves 45 are constructed to receivethe first tab 55 of the biased switch 50 and to prevent further rotationof the rotatable cap, and wherein the beveled grooves 47 comprise slopededges and a depth to receive the first tab 55 of the biased switch 50and to allow the first tab 55 of the biased switch 50 to move out of thebeveled grooves 47 during rotation of the rotatable cap 40.